KEEN ROWING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 65, 18 April 1944, Page 5

KEEN ROWING

JUNIOR TEAMS COMPETE

RIVETT TROPHY CONTEST

A record crowdi for rowing events, thronged the waterfront last Sunday afternoon when four teams drawn from the Whakatane Junior Rowing Club took part in three spirited events' for the Rivett trophies. The four teams participating gave a uniformly good display and! are deserving of the highest praise for the manner in which they have improved under the tuition of their coaches. A point that was warmly appreciated toy the boys was the cheering which greeted the final stages of all races and which were given for all teams concerned. It. can be safely said that the club last Sunday received the finest 'boost' it has experienced for many years and we sincerely hope that there will be many such contests in future which will make for the advancement of th'is attractive and manly sport. In the first two heats J. Maxwell, E. Hunly K. Butler and C. Sharman (Ellis cox) won by half a canvas from A. Moore, D. Kahui, R. King and G. Stewart (R. Maxwell cox); G. Dines, W. Rivett, G. Ranby and T. Miekell (Dines cox) beat L. Stewart, J. Cameron, D. Brockett and P. Moore (Morpeth cox) by half a length. The course was over threequarters of a mile and was closely contested all the way. The only untoward incident occurred in the second event when the inner oars fowled and Stewart's crew fell back considerably. The final was as sound an exhibition of oarsmanship as. any could wish, to see and the finish whipped thei crowd up to a fine state of excitement. Maxwell's crew, obviously in better form than their opponents slowly pulled into the lead and passed the. post still rowing hard to win by a wide margin. The winning team was J. Maxwell (stroke), El. Hunt (3), K. Butler (2), and C. Sharman (1). Afternoon tea was then served for the benefit of the club members and their friends after which Mr C. A. Hayward, club president, thanked the. public for the splendid attendance, the ladies for the manner in which they had dispensed the. refreshments and Messrs Drube and Turpin for their assistance towards the promotion, of the event. Mrs J. D. Rivett then presented the trophies to the members of the winning team. Speaking in congratulatory terms, the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, complimented the young boys who had taken up the sport and thus .kept the club going in readiness for the senior members when, they returned from overseas. He paid a warm tribute to those men who had coached and trained the boys, mentioning in particular Mr Joe Gattsche who had taken not. merely a prominent part in training but had also acted as caretaker and general adviser to the. boys in the maintenance and care of the skiffs and the club's property.